Cartridge with electrode member constituting a conducting path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9274489-B2
Application number	US-201213672059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2012
Priority date	Nov 9, 2011
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a member to be supplied with electric energy; a frame molded with a resin material; and an electrode member formed on the frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material. The electrode member includes a supporting portion for supporting the member to be supplied with electric energy and a contact portion to be contacted to a main assembly electric contact, provided in the main assembly, when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said cartridge comprising:
a rotatable member to be electronically connected with a contact of the main assembly;
a frame; and
an electrode member formed on said frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material, said electrode member working a bearing member and constituting a conducting path between the contact and said rotatable member when said cartridge is mounted to the main assembly.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode member includes a supporting portion that is configured to support said rotatable member, and an electrical contact that is connected with the contact of the main assembly.

3. A cartridge according to claim 2 , wherein said frame includes a through hole, and said electrode member includes a penetrating portion for penetrating through said through hole, and
wherein said penetrating portion is configured to be positioned between said support member and said electrical contact.

4. A cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein said electrical contact is regulated from moving relative to said frame in the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole.

5. A cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein said supporting portion is regulated from moving relative to said frame in the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole.

6. A cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein said electrode member includes an engaging portion that is provided in an end side of said penetrating portion with respect to the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole and which extends in a direction crossing the penetrating direction, and
wherein at least one of said supporting portion and said engaging portion has a tapered portion inclined from a surface perpendicular to the penetrating direction.

7. A cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein a vertex of a phantom circular cone including said tapered portion is located on a rotational axis of a member to be electrically connected that is supported by said electrode member.

8. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said rotatable member is a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member.

9. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said rotatable member is a supplying roller for supplying developer to a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member.

10. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode member includes a recessed portion, and an end portion of said rotatable member is inserted into said recessed portion to rotatably support said rotatable member.

11. A cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode member includes a projected portion, and said projected portion is inserted into a recessed portion provided on a longitudinal end surface of said rotatable member to rotatably support said rotatable member.

12. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming apparatus comprising:
(i) a main assembly electric contact;
(ii) a cartridge including:
(a) a rotatable member to be electrically connected with a contact of said main assembly electric contact;
(b) a frame; and
(c) an electrode member formed on said frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material, said electrode member working a bearing member and constituting a conducting path between said main assembly electric contact and said rotatable member when said cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus; and

(iii) conveying means for conveying the recording material.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said electrode member includes a supporting portion that is configured to support said rotatable member, and an electrical contact that is connected with the contact of the main assembly.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said frame includes a through hole, and said electrode member includes a penetrating portion for penetrating through said through hole, and
wherein said penetrating portion is configured to be positioned between said supporting portion and said electrical contact.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said electrical contact is regulated from moving relative to said frame in the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said supporting portion is regulated from moving relative to said frame in the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole.

17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said electrode member includes an engaging portion that is provided in an end side of said penetrating portion with respect to the direction that said penetrating portion penetrates said through hole and which extends in a direction crossing the penetrating direction, and
wherein at least one of said supporting portion and said engaging portion has a tapered portion inclined from a surface perpendicular to the penetrating direction.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein a vertex of a phantom circular cone including said tapered portion is located on a rotational axis of a member to be electrically connected that is supported by said electrode member.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said rotatable member is developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said rotatable member is a supplying roller for supplying developer to a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member.

21. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said electrode member includes a recessed portion, and an end portion of said rotatable member is inserted into said recessed portion to rotatably support said rotatable member.

22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said electrode member includes a projected portion, and said projected portion is inserted into a recessed portion provided on a longitudinal end surface of said rotatable member to rotatably support said rotatable member.

23. A bearing member supporting a rotatable member to be electrically connected with a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, said bearing member comprising:
a frame; and
an electrode member formed on said frame by injection molding of an electroconductive resin material, said electrode member working a bearing member and constituting a conducting path when said bearing member is mounted to the main assembly.

24. A bearing member according to claim 23 , wherein said electrode member includes a (i) supporting portion that is configured to support the rotatable member, (ii) an electrical contact that is connected with the contact of the main assembly, and (iii) an engaging portion,
wherein at least one of said supporting portion and said engaging portion has a tapered portion inclined from a surface perpendicular to the penetrating direction.

25. A bearing member according to claim 24 , wherein said frame includes a through hole, and said electrode member includes a pene

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Takarada Hiroshi
• Suzuki Akira
• Fukui Yuichi

Classifications

• G03G21/1867

  for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply · CPC title

• G03G15/80 Primary

  Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections · CPC title

• G03G15/0896 Primary

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894 · CPC title

• G03G21/181

  Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage · CPC title

• G03G2215/0872

  Housing of developing device · CPC title